Bible notes
Jeremiah 20:7-13; Psalm 69:7-10,(11-15),16-18; Romans 6:1b-11; Matthew 10:24-39
Jeremiah 20:7-13
Jeremiah has just been released from the stocks, put there by the Temple administrator.
His word is a challenge to the ruling authorities and they want to silence him. But his dialogue here is with God who, he says, has put a fire in his bones and, even though his audience laughs and worse, he cannot keep that message in. However, because the word is from God, the prophet is convinced that it is his opponents who will ultimately be put to shame and he will be vindicated. He can therefore sing the praise of the God who has not only led him into this trouble but will deliver him from it.
Psalm 69:7-10,(11-15),16-18
Like Psalm 22, this poem is an impassioned complaint by a poet who is in deep trouble. Perhaps he was ill, wrongly accused, caught up in a fight with enemies, suffering mental health problems. The experience has alienated him from his friends –note the deep sadness of verse 20 –and cast him onto God’s mercy who, he asserts, is the only one who can rescue him from his plight.
Romans 6:1b-11
In one sense, Romans 6:1-5 is a perfect baptismal theology, explaining what happens when the rite is administered and what effect it has on the candidate. But there is more going on here. Paul has shown we are joined to Abraham by sharing a faith like his. Now he wants to assert that we are sharing in the liberation of Israel from slavery in Egypt by that same faith (this becomes clearer in subsequent verses). Our liberation, as the apostle spells out from verse 6, is from sin and results from us having participated in Christ’s death. Paul is keen to nail the lie that we can carry on sinning because we have been freely forgiven as a result of God’s grace in Christ (v:1) –hence the conclusion in verse 11 that we count ourselves dead to sin and alive to God.
Matthew 10:24-39
There’s something about the call of Jesus that could leave us feeling fearful. So, three times Jesus says ‘don’t be afraid’ (vv:26, 28 and 31). We should fear God for out of that relationship comes the ability to face whatever the world throws at us. So, he stresses that we should not keep our faith hidden (vv:26-27); better for us to proclaim what we know on our terms than have to defend ourselves against our opponents’ cross examination. People might not want to listen and we might be afraid of the consequences of them hearing, but it’s better to take the initiative and go into the wolf pack.
Jesus’ reason for our boldness is simple: our opponents can only kill our bodies, they cannot harm our souls if we have put our trust in God. Again, using an illustration from nature (see 6:26-30), Jesus reminds us that birds are two-a-penny and yet God knows all about them. How much more will he care for those who trust him? Finally, in a bold reminder of his authority, Jesus declares that those who remain loyal to him will benefit from his loyalty on the Day of Judgement (v:33). This is not a matter of private faith but public declaration. We cannot be a secret disciple for long: as we live his way, sooner or later we get asked to explain ourselves and how we respond has eternal consequences.
Jesus sets our experience of opposition in the overall context of his mission. At first sight, what he says is rather strange because the Messiah was expected to usher in God’s reign of peace and justice (Isaiah 9:6-7;11:6-9). But Jesus’ point is that people have to decide for or against him; no one can be neutral or indifferent. Hence he brings conflict to families, households and nations (a fulfilment of Micah 7:6).
The radical nature of Jesus’ call means we have to decide between family and God’s kingdom. And it will feel like a sword being thrust into people’s hearts, including ours. True peace only comes through following Jesus, and it is those who choose not to who will often be the cause of division and conflict. Peacemakers often pay a heavy price. Jesus carried a cross and we are called to do the same. Peace comes through the shedding of blood – Christ’s and possibly ours as well. But the note of hope here is that if we lose our life in Christ, we will find it in God.
See also: Scripture in context: Mission and teaching